Eye Exposures
Accidental exposures to chemicals, drugs or household products are always frightening.
When the exposure involves the eyes, it is especially alarming. The good news is that most of the people with ocular (eye) exposures who call the Poison Control Center do well. This does not, however, mean that eye exposures are harmless. The reason most callers don't experience significant damage is proper treatment.
The difference between damage and simple irritation
Identifying dangerous products
Common household products that can be very dangerous to the eyes
First aid for eye exposures
The Difference Between Damage and Simple Irritation
Most substances that contact the eye result in simple irritation; in these cases rinsing the eye is sufficient to resolve the problem. However, some ocular exposure can progress to a corneal abrasion or burn.
The cornea is a clear, jelly-like membrane covering the eye. If it becomes chemically abraded (scraped or scratched) it can lead to persistent pain, blurred vision, and possibly infection. A person with a corneal abrasion may feel like he has a grain of sand in his eye, even after continuous flushing with water.
It is important to identify serious symptoms and promptly seek medical attention. Failure to recognize these symptoms may result in further damage to the eyes. Always call the Poison Control Center for proper assessment of the situation.
Development of serious problems after an eye exposure largely depends upon the harmful potential of the substance involved. There are thousands of chemicals, cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. that people could be exposed to.
Identifying Dangerous Products
Which of these products do you think could be most damaging to the eyes?
The mother of a two year old finds her child crying and furiously rubbing his eyes. There is a can of hair spray next to him on the floor.
A young man is fixing a car. He disconnects a fuel line and the gasoline sprays him in the face.
Mrs. Jones is distracted by the doorbell and accidently gets a shot of oven cleaner in her eyes.
Answer
If you guessed the oven cleaner, you guessed correctly. Many oven cleaners can cause burns to the eye. Gasoline and hair spray may be irritating but do not often cause serious damage.
Call the Poison Control Center anytime there is an exposure that involves the eye(s).
Common Household Products That Can Be Very Dangerous to the Eyes
- Dishwasher (automatic) detergents
- Drain openers
- Hair relaxers
- Hair perm solutions
- Hair removers
- Lime
- Mildew stain removers
- Oven cleaners
- Rust removers
- Toilet bowl cleaners
There is no simple list of "dangerous" versus "harmless" substances, and every potentially harmful product could not be listed here. Always call a poison center to identify the harmful potential of the substance involved.
First Aid for Eye Exposures
The extent of injury to the eye also depends on the duration of the exposure. Substances that are relatively harmless may cause serious damage if not promptly removed from the eyes using an effective technique.
First aid treatment must be given immediately and is typically the same:
- Remove contact lenses immediately. Soft and disposable lenses should be discarded. Check with your eye care professional for the proper procedure for hard and semi-permeable lenses.
- Flood the eyes with room temperature water for at least 15-20 minutes. This can be easily done in the shower with a gentle stream of water; it can also be accomplished by pouring water from a large glass 2-3 inches from the eyes. Forget using an eye cup or eye drops; these are virtually useless. If a small child is exposed, wrapping them "mummy-style" in a towel and getting the help of another adult makes the job easier. Pouring glasses of water over the affected eye(s) works well for children. In either case, do not force the eyelids open as it is not necessary for successful treatment. A full 15-20 minutes of flushing is required to properly remove the substance from the eyes. Time the treatment by the clock and have the patient blink as much as possible while flooding the eyes.
- Do not put any type of drops into the eye after the irrigation is complete. When you call, the poison center specialist will ask for your name and telephone number and will call you back after the irrigation is complete. To avoid any delay in the important first aid steps, the poison specialist will discuss any further instructions during the follow-up call.
Additional recommendations will depend on the presence or absence of symptoms and the substance involved.